New Zealand

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 56, 11 February 1916, Page 3

New Zealand

OFFICERS. Dead ... ... 120 Missing ... ... 12 Wounded ... ... 217 Total ... ... 349 OTHER RANKS.' Dead 2471 f- Missing ... ... 120 Prisoners ... ... ,23 { Wounded ... ... 5260 Total' ... ... 7874 Grand total ... 8223

LATEST TOTALS OF DOMINION LOSSES. r I'ER. ntKHB ASSOCIATION. Wellington, February 10. Tile removal of a large mimher of names . from the missing list to the death list, as the result of a hoard of • inquiry, has made a change in the appearance of the summarised casualty list. The issued to-day is as •* follows :

r GALL FOR MEN. NO COMPULSION YET. Hamilton, February 10. i The attitude of certain local bodies towards the new recruiting scheme was [ mentioned toHhe Hon. J. Allen here to-day. He said if flfey could not give a lead on the question but choose to express opinions against, the scheme they they could not help it. So far as the expressed opinion of the majority of the local bodies in the South Island was concerned' they had, in the majority of cases, spoken in favor 1 of compulsion. He had not heard what tlie North Island bodies thought. Thej present (government was committed to 1 give the voluntary system a. thorough 1 test and had to consider the fact that there may be people strongly opposed to compulsion, and the Government had to try to secure the necessary men instead of alienating the support ol these people.’ I “Of course, if the present scheme fails and no better voluntary system,' is and no better voluntary system ’isdevised there will he nothing else for it but compulsion,'” Mr Allen added. “It ispiot intended by the new scheme that the men who had once stated the reasons pvhy they could not enlist should' he again approached, as filename would be placed on the list of the local recruiting committee as canvassed. Further, no man would he permitted to act as a recruiting officer who had not offered his services and had heen rejected as medically unlit or had given genuine reasons' lor not being able to do his share in the bring line.” WAR BADGES. Wellingon, February 10. The Recruiting Board held a long ( meeting to-day. '1 he Board decided to issue four distinctive badges, ’as , follows ; (1) For men who have enlisted and , are waiting to be called up.—A khaki , arm badge bossed with a rod crown. ( (2) For men honorably discharged from the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. —A scarlet badge embossed with a yellow crown. (3) For men who have offered to serve but have heen rejected as unable to fulfil the Defence Department requirements.—A French grey arm badge embossed with a light green crown. M l For men who have been retained for services in the'Dominion lor manufacture or production or other reasons. A light blue arm badge embossed with a white crown. 1 WAR FUNDS. ATTITUDE OF THE GOVERNMENT POSITION OF PATRIOTIC COMMITTEES. Wellington, February 10. An impression seems to have got about that the Government wants to ( get possession of patriotic funds and j use them for Government purposes, j said the Prime Minister to-night. “Eft, | me say that the Government lias no such intention, though ! am .KUiiiJ to aiso say that 1 think the Minister for - Internal Affairs was justified in giving the Auckland Committee an oppor- ( tunitv of assisting in the equipment of /the soldiers’ Convalescent Home at Rotorua, in their own district. Ihe . Auckland Committee declined to do so and on that point there is nothing r more to he said - It is the duty of the Government to see that such funds arc used for the purpose for widen they are-collected, that is, for assisting the j sick and wounded soldiers and their dependents or the dependents of those * who have fallen. c “So long as the different asso' i- ■ ifions, use their funds in accordance J ivith the Act of last session, and the

desire of contributors without parsimony on the one side or waste on the other, there will he no interference on the part of the Government. The Government will do its full duty to the soldiers out of the public funds from its own control, hut there is no reason why the Government and the patriotic associations should not work together each in is own way for the benefit ol the Empire’s defenders.”;

SERBIAN RELIEF FUND.

LAWN FETE.

The lawn ieie promoted by the Park Tennis and Croquet Clubs in aid of the , .Serbian Relief Fund will take ;place' on Thursday next, 17th lust,, and., prbmises to he a great success. Tickets; are selling freely, and as the proceeds are to he devoted to the aid of our brave Serbian Allies it is hoped that all who can, will not duly buy tickets, i but also assist by attending the fete and taking part.in the various competitions which will be held during the afternoon and evening. Fun will be provided for young and old, and a good time for patrons is guaranteed. ■ Help our suffering Allies by giving freely. Remember, they are lighting for us as well as themselves. ‘New Zealanders are living in plenty, while thousands of our Allies are on the verge of starvation. It is up to* us to lend a helping hand and the public are asktd to patronise the fete next Ihuisday and make it the success it deserves to be.